Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - Business First of Buffalo:

esivyjifag.wordpress.com
The college’s program, also known as OLLI, received the $1 milliom endowment from the BernardOsher Foundation, which is the organization that has provide d initial funding to OLLI programs at 122 colleges and universitiee nationwide. Sierra College is the only community collegwe in California and one of only three communit y colleges in the nation to receivthe $1 million endowment. The Rockli college received the endowment because it has been so successful with growingg enrollment since launching the program in springof 2001. Sierra Colleger has grown the programto 5,580 enrollees last from 1,038 in 2001. Sierra College is scheduled to formall y announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 milliojn endowment will provide an ongoing budget that will enablwe the college to offer lifelong learning programsin perpetuity. The foundation created by San Francisck philanthropist Bernard Osher gives OLLIprograms $100,000 a year for up to four and then a $1 million endowment once they demonstrat e potential for success and sustainability. OLLI programs providee classes, lectures and events to older adultas who have a thirst for knowledgweand community. The classes are designed for adults age 55 and but the Sierra program acceptsz anyadult student. Courses are offered at each of the Sierrz College campuses and at varioues community sites throughout Placer andNevada counties.
Sierra College’s OLLI noncredit offerings are tuition-free. Additional topicw are offered throughClub OLLI, where annuao membership fees are $35. As the Business Journa l reported in a feature on locall OLLI programsin 2007, other OLLI programs can be foundd at California State Universityu Sacramento and at the UC Davisw Extension. Much of the increasexd demand for OLLIs and similar lifelonf learning programs can be attributed to the growing rankss ofolder Americans.